What is the pruning knife of this heavenly Husbandman? It is often said
to be affliction. By no means in the first place. How would it then fare
with many who have long seasons free from adversity; or with some on whom?
God appears to shower down kindness all their life long? No; it is the
Word of God that is the knife, shaper than any two-edged sword, that
pierces even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and is quick
to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. It is only when
affliction leads to this discipline of the Word that it becomes a
blessing; the lack of this heart-cleansing through the Word is the reason
why affliction is so often unsanctified. Not even Paul's thorn in the
flesh could become a blessing until Christ's Word--"My strength is
made perfect in weakness" -- had made him see the danger of
self-exaltation, and made him willing to rejoice in infirmities.
The Word of God's pruning knife. Jesus says: "Ye are already clean,
because of the word I have spoken unto you." How searchingly that
word had been spoken by Him, out of whose mouth there went a sharp
two-edged sword, as he had taught them! "Except a man deny himself,
lose his life, forsake all, hate father and mother, he cannot be My
disciple, he is not worthy of Me"; or as He humbled their pride, or
reproved their lack of love, or foretold their all forsaking Him. From the
opening of His ministry in the Sermon on the Mount to His words of warning
in the last night, His Word had tried and cleansed them. He had discovered
and condemned all there was of self; they were now emptied and cleansed,
ready for the incoming of the Holy Spirit.
It is as the soul gives up its own thoughts, and men's thoughts of what is
religion, and yields itself heartily, humbly, patiently, to the teaching
of the Word by the Spirit, that the Father will do His blessed work of
pruning and cleansing away all of nature and self that mixes with our work
and hinders His Spirit. Let those who would know all the Husbandman can do
for them, all the Vine can bring forth through them, seek earnestly to
yield themselves heartily to the blessed cleansing through the Word. Let
them, in their study of the Word, receive it as a hammer that breaks and
opens up, as a fire that melts and refines, as a sword that lays bare and
slays all that is of the flesh. The word of conviction will prepare for
the word of comfort and of hope, and the Father will cleanse them through
the Word. All ye who are branches of the true Vine, each time you read or
hear the Word, wait first of all on Him to use it for His cleansing of the
branch. Set your heart upon His desire for more fruit. Trust Him as
Husbandman to work it. Yield yourselves in simple childlike surrender to
the cleansing work of His Word and Spirit, and you may count upon it that
His purpose will be fulfilled in you.
Father, I pray Thee, cleanse me through Thy Word. Let it search out and
bring to light all that is of self and the flesh in my religion. Let it
cut away every root of self-confidence, that the Vine may find me wholly
free to receive His life and Spirit. O my holy Husbandman, I trust Thee to
care for the branch as much as for the Vine. Thou only art my hope.